If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

ILLUSTRATION - Portable Hammock Pipe Stand (Speer/Jacks Instructions)

I was lucky enough to join the Jacks from Jacks 'R' Better at Trail Days 2012 and saw first-hand the pipe stand that they used for their demonstrations. The Jack's used 2 in. pipe that was virtually indestructible. I liked it so much that I made my own for my hammock demonstrations. I made mine from 1 in. pipe and it has been working flawlessly. I love it!

This stand packs down and travels much better than my Vario stand and it works perfectly with a tarp.

The Jacks' stand is based on the Speer design from 2004. This is nothing new: there are lots of variants on the forums, but I thought I'd draw up the basic instructions from the Jacks for the benefit of the forum. Take it and run with it!

Weight? Well, I hope you're not considering _backpacking_ with this stand It's portable, but it's not lightweight. I'm hedging because I don't know _exactly_ how much it weighs.

I bought everything from Home Depot for $180. I could have acquired the pipe for less, but I was one day away from a hammock demo at REI and Home Depot was the quickest option. This was more than I wanted to spend initially, but I'm very happy with the stand after the fact.

Jack recommended adding an extra joint (e.g., 60" + joint + 12") in the legs to give the straps a ledge. I considered that, but opted for the simpler, less-expensive model illustrated here. In practice, I don't think the ledge is necessary. I used my regular webbing straps and just wrapped it several times around the pipe and it holds like a rock with no slippage whatsoever. I've been sleeping with that stand for the past two weeks, my kids have been rambunctious in it, and it's holding up great.

I'm positive I could get the pipe for cheaper from some of the recycled home supply centers here in town, or perhaps a plumber friend who can get the pipe at cost.

SIDE STORY: This stand travels well. I fit it in my sedan while traveling to hammock demos. It stores nice and flat, unlike my other commercial stand. My wife recently returned from backpacking Havasupai, where she hammock camped down with the waterfalls. Glorious. However, she spent a night on the ground at the trailhead before heading down the canyon. We're already planning a couple's trip and this stand will be going with us to set up at the trailhead where it is completely flat, rocky, and no vegetation.

I really like that idea. I tried my buddy's portable wooden one and it scared the hades out of me. I was afraid it was going to fail and I was going to blow a spine on the bottom support. This would be great in my back yard considering I have one (1) single, solitary tree!

Any reason I couldn't just drill a hole through the side support bars about 6" from the top, and run an eye bolt through it? Then connect a climbing rated 'biner and attach my whoopies directly onto the 'biner, just as I do when I camp...only the 'biners are on the eyebolts, not through the MSH on my straps.

Any reason I couldn't just drill a hole through the side support bars about 6" from the top, and run an eye bolt through it? Then connect a climbing rated 'biner and attach my whoopies directly onto the 'biner, just as I do when I camp...only the 'biners are on the eyebolts, not through the MSH on my straps.

Think that would work?

That should work. I have a similar set up on my front porch at home.

Eye bolts into house/porch column. ENO DN/Whoopie Slings/Black Diamond biner hooks on to eyebolt. Just make sure to get properly rated eyebolts.

Drilling should be fine, as long as you've got a good drill press When I made my tensegrity stand out of aluminum fencing, I drilled holes and they withstood some amazing forces. I'm sure the steel would be even better.